WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Higher Education for Development (HED) recently announced that a partnership application including Virginia State University (VSU) was selected as a winner of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition. Nearly 300 applications were submitted for capacity-building partnerships between U.S. colleges and universities and higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan African nations.

NAIROBI, KENYA - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today that funding for family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) activities in Kenya would rise to $17.8 million in 2009. This announcement represents an increase of $7 million to USAID's family planning and reproductive health activities in Kenya from just two years ago.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Mother's Day, May 10th, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will mark 20 years of work to research, prevent and treat the major causes of maternal death and disability in high burden countries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator, Alonzo Fulgham administered today the oath of office to William Frej as the new mission director for Afghanistan. Frej is a Minister Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service and has worked for USAID for the past twenty years in both overseas and Washington, D.C. assignments.

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, the Partnership for Public Service announced that two individuals and a team from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been chosen as finalists for the 2009 National Security and International Affairs Service to America Medals, also known as "Sammies."

BAGHDAD - U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Iraq Director Christopher D. Crowley, in partnership with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Rafe H. Al-Eissawi, opened a two-day conference that marked another milestone in Iraq's rebuilding efforts.

The conference brought together ministers, director generals, and governors from six central provinces of Iraq to work together to improve the provision of public services to the Iraqi people.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is convening a group of civil society organizations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in a regional exercise that will kick off the implementation stage of its Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness initiative. The three-day exercise seeks to advance global capacity to thwart a humanitarian disaster in the event of a pandemic.

As concerns over the spread of swine flu grow, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today that it is providing an additional $5 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in emergency support for efforts to detect and contain the disease in Mexico.

Each year on April 25 the world recognizes World Malaria Day to call attention to the disease and to mobilize action to combat it. I hope that soon we can celebrate the elimination of malaria as a major public health threat.

In celebration of International Earth Day, the Director General of Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) declared Band-e-Amir as Afghanistan's first national park. This official designation affords legal protection to the lakes and surrounding landscape, and will ensure sustainable environmental management for this area of great natural beauty. Since 2006, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been working with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and local communities surrounding Band-e-Amir to establish the national park.

The United States, through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), has helped 15 high burden countries in Africa to dramatically scale up highly effective malaria prevention and treatment interventions, according to the PMI third annual malaria report released today.

Today President Barack Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Included in that legislation was a first-ever legislative authorization for the President to establish the Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP) program in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The VfP program aims to promote short- and long-term international volunteer service by skilled American professionals to addressing the needs of those living in the poorest areas of the world.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a $12.5 million dollar expansion of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Effective School Program during a visit to the Rosa Duarte Public Elementary School in the Dominican Republic.

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a $12.5 million dollar expansion of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Effective School Program during a visit to the Rosa Duarte Public Elementary School in the Dominican Republic.

WASHINGTON D.C. - On Tuesday, innovation leaders from the White House, NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State convened for an interactive panel called Open Innovation for Government: Answering President Obama's Call for More Open, Effective Public Service.

USAID and Coca-Cola and Local Government Unite to Repair Schools' Plumbing

April 16: More than 10,000 South African learners, teachers, and community members will gain access to clean, abundant water and sanitation through an international Water and Development Alliance (WADA) supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) and implemented by the Alliance to Save Energy, an international non-profit organization.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Higher Education for Development (HED) announced today 40 paired winners of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition. Nearly 300 applications were submitted for capacity-building partnerships between U.S. colleges and universities and higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan African nations. Paired winners will receive planning grants from USAID of $50,000 each.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN-- A joint statement of collaboration was signed between the United States Government and the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Pakistan. The signing marked the announcement of the United States Agency for International Development's 3-year, $24 million Energy Efficiency and Capacity Building project, according to a U.S. Embassy announcement today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - MARCH 25, 2009 - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and EngenderHealth announced today that 10,000 women have received surgery for fistula with U.S. support since 2005. Fistula, a devastating vaginal injury affecting millions of women in developing countries, can be surgically repaired, but most of those with the condition lack access to a skilled surgeon or health center, making treatment out of reach.

The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is providing more than $3.7 million in assistance to lower rates of malnutrition and increase food security of families in Senegal. Of this $3.7 million, USAID is providing $2.7 million to improve community-based nutrition efforts and agriculture production in the regions of Ziguinchor, Sedhiou and Kolda in Senegal.